Stephen Colbert opened “The Late Show” on Friday by explaining Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) incredible rise as a Democratic presidential candidate.
“Everybody feeling the Bern?” Colbert asked. “He wants to give you universal healthcare so you can have that burn checked out.”
Colbert noted that Sanders’ success is Hillary Clinton’s “most shocking political upset since the last time it happened to her,” alluding to her loss to Barack Obama in the 2008 primary.
Later on the show, Colbert asked Sanders how he has gained so much support.
“Did you expect this to happen? Colbert asked. “Because you have shocked the political class in the United States.”
“Well, this is what I expected, Stephen,” Sanders responded. “I knew that we had a message that would resonate with the American people.”
Sanders also explained to Colbert why he’s not insulted when people call him a “liberal” and a “socialist.”
“I prefer the term, actually, to be a progressive, and I’ll tell you why,” Sanders said, noting that countries like Denmark have universal health care and free college.
“What you have is a society where government, as I believe it — should in this country — radical idea though it may be, should actually represent working people and the middle class, rather than large campaign donors,” he continued.
Watch Colbert’s intro and part of his interview with Sanders below:
I’m feelin’ it!
How come Caitlin did not mention the Folk album? Huh? Bernie got my vote with that baby. It reminded me of dad trying to sing The Battle Hymn of the Republic during a thunderstorm. Good times
And my dad and I didn’t get along that well.
My accountant is a conservative but willing to discuss issues fairly. When I bring up socialism vis-a-vis Bernie Sanders’ promotion of same, he says you can’t compare a small, homogenous country like Denmark to the United States. In other words, what works for them won’t work for us. I’m thinking, why wouldn’t it work for us? Are we that far down the oligarchy drain that we can’t develop and implement a system of health care for all and higher education for everyone who desires it?
I’m originally from NY so his voice is familiar and comfortable to me. How does his voice play in other parts of the country?
Every time I hear him and his plans I want to switch from Hillary. Do others feel that?
Colbert ends the first clip with something like ¨when you see that man, when you listen to that album, you know that it wasn’t chosen by any focus group¨. That’s a good part of why Sanders is so appealing to me (and, for that matter, why Trump might appeal to some with right-wing politics, I suppose). I am so sick of candidates that have been packaged to the point where they no longer seem human.